Five Shreveport streets may get outfitted with bike lanes during the second phase of the city's ongoing bike lane project.

City leaders selected Crockett Street, Marshall Street, Southern Avenue, St. Vincent Avenue and Texas Avenue as the next best bets for improving the quality of life for the city's bicycling community.

But the city Chief Administrative Officer Brian Crawford told those at a Monday infrastructure meeting that the city's short presentation was the "beginning of the conversation."

"We certainly want the feedback of the bike community," he said. "The bike riders are the ones who have the first hand knowledge."

Crawford added that city staff also will consult with the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development as the city's bike path plan moves forward.

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The city's Chief Administrative Officer Brian Crawford said an infrastructure meeting Monday was "just the beginning of the conversation" of five new streets named for potential bike paths.(Photo: Lex Talamo/The Times)

Andy Glasgow, an assistant city engineer, told the three council members who attended the afternoon meeting — Oliver Jenkins, Jeff Everson and Michael Corbin — that grant money would be used to help with the project planned for Texas Avenue.

Glasgow said he had received "a lot of feedback" from the community about the selected sites, as had Everson.

"These are the streets the biking community is interested in," Everson said.

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Andy Glasgow, an assistant city engineer, unveils 5 new streets where bike paths may be built at an infrastructure meeting Monday.(Photo: Lex Talamo/The Times)

The bike lane program is meant to better accommodate bicyclists where there is insufficient space for comfortable bicycling, former city engineer Robert Westerman said prior to his death in December.

The City of Shreveport first unveiled its plan to add bike lanes to existing roadways in February 2017. The first four streets slated for Phase I included Centenary Boulevard from Stoner Avenue to Kings Highway; along Ockley Drive from Line Avenue to Gilbert Drive; several lanes along Pierremont Road, Stephenson Street, Kirby Street and Jordan Street; and several lanes on Gilbert Drive from Stoner Avenue to Kings Highway and Ockley Drive.

Giovannte Sims, a local cyclist who spoke during Monday's meeting, voiced concerns about the city's already-implemented lanes.

"The Gilbert Drive bike lanes are not safe to ride," Sims told council members.

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About two dozen community members showed up at a council infrastructure meeting on Monday.(Photo: Lex Talamo/The Times)

Everson said Sims' concerns would be addressed at a bike-lane-only infrastructure committee meeting planned for later in the month.